I have a Stevens 49 that has a two prong cast aluminum butt plate. The plate is original to the rifle and is serial number matched. Best guess on the manufacture date of the rifle is 1896 or '97 based on the 7 o'clock extractor and the way the barrel is marked.

Given the relatively high cost of aluminum and newness to general public in the late 1800's does anyone have an idea as to when Stevens first offered these plates and how common were they?

Looked through some Stevens catalogs for some reference to this, but found nothing; if this were an experimental plate, or special order, however, there'd be no catalog listing for it. Though I've never seen one, I do have a vague recollection about such a plate being mentioned by someone I know--possibly Gary Quinlan, whom you might call for further info.

Taking the trouble to stamp the ser. no. on an aftermarket part is certainly possible, but it would be unusual--something most gunsmiths & owners just wouldn't think important.

Mike65Back the early 1970's I had schuetzen and swiss butt plates cast in steel, brass and aluminium for most of the Ballard, Winchester, Stevens rifles along with Pope, Schoyen, Zischang, etc. styles. Possibly the butt plate you have could have been one of mine. The heavy swiss butt plate would have been correct for the Stevens Model 49. BW Darr

The more ballistic research I do convinces me all the more Schoyen, Pope and Peterson had it right over 100 years ago.

Most high quality fly reels were aluminum by the early '90s. Also certain kinds of camping equipment, such as pots, mess kits, etc. Wasn't as widely used as now, of course, but had ceased to be exceptionally expensive.

According to Gary Quinlan, whom I spoke to at length about this rifle, it was probably ordered and set up as a gallery rifle. Originally in .22 short it is fully engraved and has a windage adjustable front sight. The rear was gone when I purchased the rifle. Gary did tell me good luck on finding the correct rear sight as he has only seen a couple in all of his years of collecting.

The reason that I mention the above is that the butt plate is actually a fairly rough casting, not polished at all, but may have had some sort of finish or plating applied to it at some time a long time ago.

It became fairly common in the early auto's. I saw a 1910 Buick that had a lot of cast aluminum parts on it, including the complete, two piece crankcase. It was very enlighting to me. I'd though of it as a 30's and later material, like the Canadian Ford alumium heads.

It became fairly common in the early auto's. I saw a 1910 Buick that had a lot of cast aluminum parts on it, including the complete, two piece crankcase. It was very enlighting to me. I'd though of it as a 30's and later material, like the Canadian Ford alumium heads.

That reminds me: two pre-WWI cars I've seen in antique car museums had aluminum bodies; problem is, I can't recall their names. They were luxury cars, but more or less production models, not custom-built. One of them might have been the Lozier, most expensive American car of its time.

I know that Pope furnished aluminum butt plates when he was in Jersey City. I do not know if the use of aluminum proceeded that time. I am also pretty sure that Pope only had his butt plates cast up.My bet is someone replaced a either missing or damaged plate with a Darr aluminum plate.

According to Gary Quinlan, whom I spoke to at length about this rifle, it was probably ordered and set up as a gallery rifle. Originally in .22 short it is fully engraved and has a windage adjustable front sight. The rear was gone when I purchased the rifle. Gary did tell me good luck on finding the correct rear sight as he has only seen a couple in all of his years of collecting.

The reason that I mention the above is that the butt plate is actually a fairly rough casting, not polished at all, but may have had some sort of finish or plating applied to it at some time a long time ago.

Mike

I own a Stevens very similar to yours, except for the buttplate. Same caliber, engraving, checkering, and DST. Mine has a Lyman windage adjustable 103 tang sight. The Stevens H style tang is most likely what it had stock, and they sure are tough to find!